Rhea Ripley has been replaced by Tiffany Stratton on the Night of Champions poster, casting doubt on her participation in the event. On June 16, 2026, Wrestle Features posted the updated poster on X.
What happened?
Rhea Ripley was initially featured heavily in the advertising for Night of Champions, suggesting she would be defending her championship at the PLE.
Why it matters for Rhea Ripley
The move to replace Ripley on the poster comes just a few days after she was absent from WWE SmackDown, with announcers revealing she was being evaluated for an injury.
Rhea Ripley hasn't wrestled a match in nearly two weeks, having last competed on a WWE Live Event on June 3.
What comes next?
Tiffany Stratton replacing Ripley on the poster suggests she will now be defending her US Championship on Night of Champions, though no match has officially been announced for her.
And Charlotte Flair is still in the running in the Queen of the Ring tournament, scheduled to face Liv Morgan on June 19, 2026.
So if Flair wins, she would move onto the finals at Night of Champions, where she would face off with Ripley's friend IYO SKY.
The winner would then move on to challenge for either the WWE Women's or WWE Women's World Championships at SummerSlam.
Rhea Ripley's injury status remains unclear, with no word emerging regarding the nature of her injury.
But the WWE Women's Champion's absence from SmackDown and replacement on the Night of Champions poster has sparked concerns about her participation in the event.
On June 5, Ripley appeared on SmackDown and was confronted by Stratton and Charlotte Flair, with both staking a claim for a future title shot.
The updated poster for Night of Champions was posted on June 16, 2026, fueling speculation about Ripley's injury and her potential withdrawal from the event.